Combination hard and soft bass drum beater ball



Feb. 19, 1952 G. F. HEIDERICH ETAL COMBINATION HARD AND SOFT BASS DRUM BEATER BALL Filed July 2. 1947 INVENTO GORDO/V F ATTO R N EY and Patented Feb. 19, 1952 COMBINATION HARD AND SOFT BASS DRUM BEATER BALL Gordon F. Heiderich, New York, N.-Y., and Charles Tappan, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application July 2, 1947, Serial No. 758,668

12 Claims.

This invention relates to percussion and musical instruments and more particularly to beaters or heater balls for drums though it is noted in some of the claims the invention is not limited to drums.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved beater of this kind which is adapted to give at will either a soft or a hard tone.

Another object is to provide a hand or foot operated beater ball which may be substantially instantaneously adjusted for hard or soft tones before or during the playing of a musical composition.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved light weight non-fatiguing, longwearing beater ball harmless to drum heads which gives a pleasing hard or soft tone.

Additional objects of the invention are to effect simplicity and efficiency in such drum heaters and to provide an extremely simple beater of this kind which is durable, and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and easyto install.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification, changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein by way of example in connection with a footoperated drum-beater which briefly stated, includes a foot actuator having a pivoted part actuated thereby and carrying fast thereon a beater arm having an upper reduced portion carrying a light weight beater ball provided with an axial bore fitted on and frictionally engaging said reduced portion, the ball having a large rectangular recess situated laterally of the axial bore and receiving a block of felt filling said recess and projecting a short distance therefrom. A drum hide cover is tightly cemented around the ball and exposing the block, the ball being manually turnable to present said block or said drum hide to the drum.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the beater ball;

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively axial and transverse sectional views of the ball;

, Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the ball in use in a foot-operated beater for a bass drum;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the ball.

Our combination hard and soft improved bass drum beater comprises a beater ball l0 carried on a metal rod forming a beater arm I adapted to be manually operated, or as here shown, secured by a set-screw 2 (Fig. 4) fast in the pivoted part |3 of a foot-operated drum beater It, which may be of any desired type, for instance, that shown in the Anderson Patent No. 924,302 of June 8, 1909, adapted to beat a drum i4. Said arm II has a reduced portion l5 (Fig. 2) having threads l6 at the free end and forming a shoulder ll spaced beater-ball-thickness distance from the threads. The beater ball is approximately spherical and of light weight nonfatiguing material l8 consisting of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type which mixture is well known on the market. The ball is provided with an axial bore l9 fitted on said reduced portion l5 and frictionally engaging the reduced portion suificiently tight to prevent undesired turning during use and not too tight to prevent the easy and quick turning of the ball by hand. The ball has flattened portions 2|, 2|! surrounding the ends of the bore substantially transverse to the axis of the ball and engaged by slightly springy washers 22, 23 on said reduced portion respectively adjacent to said flattened portions between the ball and said shoulder I! and on the threaded end l6 of the washer and having deep peripheral notches 24 (Fig. 5) forming spring segments turned against said flattened portions. A nut 25 on the threaded end engages a spring lock washer 26 enga ing the adjacent ball-engaging washer 23 causing said segments to press firmly against the ball.

The ball is provided with a large rectanguiar recess 2'! situated laterally of the axial bore and having its upper and lower walls 28 near and substantially parallel to and spaced from said flattened ends 2|], 2| and its back wall 29 approximately square and near said bore I9. A block 30 of felt filling said recess projects a short distance therefrom and has a curved outer face 3|. A long wearing drum hide cover 32, harmless to drum heads, is tightly continuously laid and stretched when wet and shrunk and dried laterally around the curved surface of the ball and on the margins of said flattened portions 29 and 2| continuously cemented with any well known cement of the glue type to said curved surface of the ball and margins of the flatt nml portion" and adjacent to the felt block, the edg"s of t e cover overlapping as at 33 being cemented together with cement of the glue type and/or the 3 natural cement normally inherently contained in the hide.

The ball is substantially instantaneously inanually turnable, before or between drum beats during use, on said beater arm to present said felt block 30 or said drum hide 32 to the drum, the felt block when striking the drum giving a pleasing soft tone to the drum, said drum hide on the ground cork and cement ball giving a pleasing sharp tone to the drum, it being thus possible to quickly change the tone of the drum. before or during the playing of a musical composition.

The heater is operated in the usual way. When used as a hand beater, it is only necessary-to turn the arm I l to change from one tone to the other. When used as a foot beater, the arm is held against rotation, and the ball ill may be quickly turned a half turn between beats in the music.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a beater arm: a light weight beater ball of cemented cork provided with an axial bore fitted on and frictionally engaging said reduced portion; the ball having a large rec tangular recess situated laterally of the axial bore; a block of felt filling said recess and projecting a. short distance therefrom; a drum hide cover tightly cemented around the ball and exposing the block; the ball being turnable to present said block or said drum hide to the drum.

2. In combination, a pivoted part; a foot actuator for said part; a beater arm on said part having an upper reduced portion; a light weight beater ball composed of a mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type provided with an axial borefitted on and frictionally engaging said reduced portion; the ball having a large rectangular recess situated laterally of the axial bore; a block of felt filling said recess and projecting a short distance therefrom; a drum hide cover tightly cemented around the ball and exposing the block; the ball being manuall turnable before or during use on said beater arm to present said felt block or said drum hide to the drum, the felt block when striking giving soft tone to the drum, said drum hide on the ground cork and cement ball giving a sharp tone to the drum.

'3. In combination, a pivoted part; a foot actuator .for said part; a beater arm on said part having an upper reduced portion; a light weight beater ball provided with an axial bore fitted on and fractionally engaging said reduced portion and having flattened ends; the ball having a large rectangular recess situated laterally of the axial bore and having its upper and lower Walls near and spaced from said flattened ends, and its back wall approximately square and near said bore; ,a block of felt filling said recess and projecting a short distance therefrom; a longwearing drum hide cover harmless to the drum h ads tightly continuously laid and very tightly stretched laterally around the curved surface of the ball and onithe margins of said flattened ends and continuously cemented to said surface and margin and adjacent to the felt block, the cover overlapping and self-sealing from the natural cement atedges of the cover hide; the ball being manually turnable to present said block or said drum hide to the drum.

4, A combination hard and soft bass drum beater comprising a metal rod forming a beater arm adapted to be secured fast in the pivoted part of a foot-operated drum beater, said rod having an upper reduced portion hairing threads at the free end and forming a shoulder spaced beater-ball-thickness distance from the threads; an approximately spherical light weight nonfatiguing beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type and provided with an axial bore fitted on said reduced portion and frictionally engaging the reduced portion sufiiciently tight to prevent turning during use and not too tight to prevent the easy and quick turning of the ball by hand; the ball having a flattened portion surroundin each end of the bore substantially transverse to the axis vof the ball; slightly springy washers on said reduced portion adjacent to said flattened portions between the ball and said shoulder and the threaded end of the washer and having deep peripheral notches forming spring segments turned against said flattened portions; a nut on the threaded end and engaging the adjacent washer causing said segments to press firmly against the ball; the ball having a large rectangular recess situated laterally of the axial bore; a block of felt filling said recess and projecting a short distance therefrom; a drum hide cover tightly cemented around the ball and exposing the block; the ball being manually turnable to present said block or said drum hide to the drum.

5. In a drum beater, the combination of a-durable light weight beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type.

6. In combination, a light weight beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of groundcork and cement of the glue type; and a drum hide cover tightly continuously laid and very tightly stretched around the curved surface of the ball and continuously cemented to said surface, adjacent margins of the cover overlapping and'being cemented together.

'7. In combination, a beater arm; a very durable light weight beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type and provided with an axial bore fitted on said arm, the ball having flattened portions at the end of the bore; and a long wearing drum hide cover harmless to drum heads tightly continuously laid and very tightly stretched around the curved surface of the ball and on the margins of said flattened portions and continuously ,cemented to said surface and margin, adjacent margins of the cover overlapping and being cemented together; the com act ground cork and cement mixture giving bounce to the ball in use and giving a sharp tone, the drum hide cover enhancing the bounce and remaining taut and free of wrinkles during long hard use.

8. In combination, a beater arm; a light weight beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type and provided with an axial bore fitted on said arm, the ball having flattened portions at the ends of the bore; the ball having a large recess in one side thereof between said flattened ends; a block of felt fitted in said recess and projecting a short distance therefrom; and a long-wearing drum hide cover harmless to drum heads tightly continuously laid and very tightly stretched around the curved surface of the ball and on the margins of said flattened portions and continuously cemented to said surface and margin and ad jacent to the felt block, adjacent margins of the cover overlapping and being cemented together with the natural cement of the glue type inherently in hide and additional cement.

;9. In the art of making drum heaters. the

method which comprises stretching a wet hide tightly laterally around the curved surface of a drum beater ball; and continuously firmly cementing the hide to said surface; overlapping and sealing together adjacent edges of the hide; and drying and shrinking the cemented-on cover to stretch the hide more tightly on the ball.

10. In the art of making drum beater balls, the method which comprises stretching a wet drum hide tightly laterally around the curved surface of an approximately spherical light weight nonfatiguing beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type; and continuously firmly cementing the hide to said surface; overlapping and cementing together adjacent edges of the cover hide; and drying and shrinking the cemented-on cover to stretch the hide more tightly on the ball.

11'. In the art of making drum heaters, the method which comprises providing an approximately spherical light weight non-fatiguing beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type and provided with an axial bore and a flattened portion surrounding each end of the bore substantially transverse to the axis of the ball; wetting a drum hide cover; stretching the wet drum hide tightly laterally around the curved surface of the ball and on the margins of said flattened ends; and continuously firmly cementing the hide to said surface and margin; overlapping and semi-sealing together adjacent edges of the cover hide from the natural cement thereof; and drying and shrinking the cemented-on cover to stretch the hide more tightly on the ball, thereby to maintain all parts of the hide taut and firmly fast on said ball and free of wrinkles duringlong con-- 6 tin-ued use, and to enhance bounce of the ball in use.

12. In the art of making drum heaters, the method which comprises providing an approximately spherical light weight non-fatiguing beater ball made of a firm compact mixture of ground cork and cement of the glue type and provided with an axial bore and a flattened portion surrounding each end of the bore substantially transverse to the axis of the ball; providing a large recess in the ball laterally of the axial bore; fitting in said recess a block of felt projecting a short distance from the recess; wetting a drum hide cover; stretching the wet drum hide tightly laterally around the curved surface of the ball and adjacent to said block and on the margins of said flattened ends; and continuously firmly cementing the hide to said surface and margin; overlapping and self-sealing together adjacent edges of the cover hide from the natural cement thereof and additional cement; and drying and shrinking the cemented-0n cover to stretch the hide more tightly on the ball.

GORDON F. HEIDERICH. CHARLES TAPPAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 924,302 Anderson June 8, 1909 1,160,392 Domashewicz Nov. 16, 1915 1,209,804 Bessinger Dec. 26, 1916 1,343,164 Smith June 8, 1920 1,564,839 Evans Dec. 8, 1925 

